State Dept. to create "special office" to deal with Iran?

[im10ashus]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department is creating a special office to deal with foreign policy changes related to Iran and to promote a democratic transition in the Islamic republic, State Department officials said Thursday.

Traditionally, Iran has been dealt with as part of a larger grouping of Persian Gulf countries, but the officials said the new Office of Iran Affairs reflects a growing concern over actions by the Iranian regime and the need to devote significantly more personnel and resources to Iran policy.

"Certainly this signals the fact that we believe that Iran and Iranian behavior is one of the greatest foreign policy priorities we will be dealing with over the next decade," a State Department official said.

The office will deal with Tehran's support for groups on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations and Iran's alleged human rights violations. The office also will be involved in issues related to Iran's nuclear energy program, which the Bush administration fears is designed to develop nuclear weapons.

cont'd...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/us.iran/index.html

I don't get this. It's already a democratic country. They have a democratically elected president. We can't "transition" a country simply because we don't like who they elected.

[BOSSHOG]

1. Creating more jobs for bush cronies!

And would this not be enlarging the federal government? Maybe richard perle could lead up this operation with his vast knowledge, expertise and leadership.

[Spazito]

2. Well, they won't even have to change the stationary used by the

White House Iraq Group so at least there will be a cost savings, right?

Disgusting but not surprising.

[naturalselection]

3. If you read the whole article

it mentions that a regional center will be built in Dubai, UAE.

"Several new positions are being created worldwide for the new Iran office. In addition to beefing up Washington-based staff working on Iran, a regional center will be built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to focus on neighboring Iran with four new foreign service posts and four local employees to do outreach. There will also be officers stationed in Germany, Azerbaijan and Britain to deal with Iranian expatriates."

[BlueEyedSon]

4. Odd, that bit.

[im10ashus]

5. I read the whole article.

Giving more jobs to the UAE.

[lastknowngood]

6. Can you say Office of Special Plans. The same gang that faked

the "evidence" against Iraq